CHICAGO (Tuesday, July 30, 2002) - The referees and assistant referees have been appointed for the 2002 Women's Gold Cup, which will be held in four cities on the West Coast of North America from October 27 to November 9, 2002.

A total of 20 women - 10 referees and 10 assistant referees - have been appointed for the tournament, the signature event for women’s national teams in the Confederation. The 2002 Women’s Gold Cup will also serve as the CONCACAF qualifying for the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be hosted by China.

Three U.S. Soccer officials are among those appointed. Sandra Hunt of Bellingham, Wash., and Kari Seitz of San Mateo, Calif., have been appointed as referees and Sharon Wheeler of Winter Park, Fla., will be the lone American assistant referee for the competition. Hunt began officiating in 1987 and became a FIFA Referee in 1999. Seitz began officiating in 1985 and also became a FIFA Referee in 1999. Wheeler began refereeing in 1991 and became a FIFA Assistant Referee in 2000.

REFEREES AND ASSISTANTS

Referees: Varnette Laing (Bahamas), Sonia Denoncourt (Canada), Jillanta Proctor (Canada), Ave Maria Alpizar (Costa Rica), Irazema Aguillera (Cuba), Dianne Ferreira-James (Guyana), Virginia Tovar (Mexico), Cassie Moore (Trinidad & Tobago), Sandra Hunt (USA), Kari Seitz (USA).

Assistant Referees: Carla Gentile (Belize), Kimberly Chalmers (Canada), Patricia Lopez (Costa Rica), Amarilis Merette (Republica Dominicana), Paulette Riley (Jamaica), Isabel Tovar (Mexico), Maria del Socorro Rodriguez (Mexico), Jackeline Saez (Panama), Lynda Bramble (Trinidad & Tobago), Sharon Wheeler (USA).